Crate or coop.



0. J. LA BAUVE.

CRATE QB 0001.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 28, 1906.

Patented Dec. 29, 1908.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

' MUG O1 Vlt 0. J. LA BAUVE,

CRATE 0R COOP.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 28, 1906.

Patented Dec. 29, 1908,.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

vwemio'a q/vihacoaca ODELON JOSEPH LA BAUVE, OF EDNA, TEXAS.

CRATE 0R COOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 29, 1908.

Application filed November 28, 1906. Serial No. 345,546.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ODELON J. LA BAUVE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Edna, in the county of Jackson and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crates or Coops, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in crates or coops, and has particular reference to a folding coop for the transportation of poultry and other live stock, the objects of the invention being to produce a strong and durable coop which may be folded in compact form to occupy but a small space; one which consists of but few and inexpensive parts, and one which will be thoroughly practical and eflicient in the uses for which it is designed.

To attain the desired objects my invention comprises a coop having a solid floor, sides, ends and a top to the coop, the sides being hinged to fold down upon the floor, the ends pivoted to fold against the sides, and the top pivoted or otherwise secured to the upper edge of the sides and ends, and the invention further consists of a coop embodying certain other novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as herein disclosed.

Attention is invited to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1, is a perspective view of my improved crate or coop, the cover or top thereof being partially broken away. Fig. 2, is a perspective .view of one of the side members and a portion of one of the end members attached thereto. Fig. 3, is a similar view of one of the end members. Fig. 4:, is a broken sectional view at one of the corners of the crate, the corner in this instance, being the one shown at the left in Fig. 1. Fig. 5, is a detail view in perspective of one of the hinge brackets or supports for the side members. Fig. 6, is a similar view of another form of the same, the members in this case being of wood with metal reinforcements.

Refering to the drawings in detail: The numeral 1, designates the bottom or floor of the crate, which is made of any suitable material and is supported and strengthened by means of the bars or sills 2, the sills being placed lengthwise at the edges of the floor. Angular frames 3, strengthened by the corner braces or brackets 4, and provided with suitable network 5, constitute the side members of the crate. The lower corners of the sides are provided with T- shaped brackets 6, the downwardly-extending leg 7 of which, is pivoted to the angle bracket 8, one of which is mounted at each of the four corners of the floor. These angle brackets form bearings or supports to the sides, and are each provided with a lug or extension 9, on their outer side which form abutments to engage the lower side bar of the members to prevent the sides being splung outwardly beyond a vertical position.

To diagonally opposite ends of each of the side members, at 22, are pivoted the end members 10, which are formed by angular frame and network substantially the same as the side members. The frames for the sides and ends of the coop are preferably constructed of angle iron, so that the ends being pivoted to the inside of the side frames at the ends thereof, may be hinged inwardly until they nest within and lie parallel to said side members. hen the ends are thus folded against the sides, the sides may then be folded down and rest upon the floor, the lines on which the members are folded being indicated in Fig. 1.

The corner brackets at the upper corners of one of the sides may be provided with extensions 11, to form bearing supports for the pintles 12, on the cover or top 13, or the top may be secured upon the crate in any other well known manner.

The frames of the sides and ends of the coop or crate may also be made of wood, when so desired, and such a construction is shown in Fig. 6. The parallel side bars 17 of the frames are connected at the ends, by the connecting bars 18, preferably of metal, and T-shaped brackets 19, are provided at the ends of the side members to form the hinge joints for the said members as before described. Angle brackets 20, on the end of the end frames are pivoted at 21, to the T-brackets on the side frames so that the ends may be folded against the sides.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings, it will be evident that I have accomplished all the conditions herein set forth as the object of my invention, and have produced a generally useful and desirable foldable coop or crate.

I claim:

1. A crate comprising a bottom, side and end frames, the side and end frames being provided with suitable reticulated coverings,

the endframes being movably connected at one extremity of each to one end of each of the side frames to swing inwardly against the inner portions of the said latter frames, upper and lower corner brackets secured to the side frames, the lower corner bracket-s having portions depending below the lower edges of the side and end frames, angle brackets secured to the corners of the bottom and having upstanding members to which the depending portions of the lower corner brackets are pivotally secured, the lower corner brackets having outer stop lugs against which the sides are adapted to bear, and a cover for the crate.

2. A crate comprising a bottom, side and end frames, the side and end frames being provided with suitable reticulated coverings, the end frames movably connected at one eX- tremity of each to one end of each of the side frames to swing inwardly against the inner portions of said latter frames, upper and lower corner brackets secured to the side frames, the lower corner brackets having portions depending below the lower edges of the side and end frames, angle brackets secured to the corners of the bottom and having upstanding members to which the depending portions of the lower corner brackets are pivotally secured, the lower corner brackets having outer stop lugs against which the sides are adapted to bear, and a cover movably attached to a portion of the upper corner brackets and foldable' over the sides and ends when the latter are turned down against the bottom.

3. A folding crate comprising a bottom, angle brackets mounted at the corners of the bottom and provided with upwardly projecting members and outer abutment lugs, rectangular side and end frames having reticulated coverings and the end frames .corner brackets of the side frames having oepending members pivotally engaging the upwardly prOJectmg members of the brackets on the bottom, the lower edges of the side frames being adapted to engage the abutment lugs of the brackets on the bottom, and a top frame having end pintles connected to a portion of the upper angular corner brackets.

l. A folding crate comprising a bottom, angle brackets mounted at the corners of the bottom and each provided with an outer abutment lug and an upwardly projecting member, rectangular side and end frames having reticulated coverings, the end frames oeing pivotally connected to diagonally opposite ends of the side frames and foldable inwardly against the latter, angular corner brackets secured to the upper and lower portions of the side and end frames, the lower corner brackets of the side frames having depending members to pivotally engage the upwardly projecting members of the angle brackets of the bottom and a portion of the upper corner brackets of one of the side frames having vertical extensions projecting above the upper edge of the said frame, the lower edges of the side frames being adapted to engage the abutment lugs, and a top frame having end pintles movably engaging the said extensions of the upper corner brackets of the one side frame.

In testimony whereof I a'l'lix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

I 'ODELON JOSEPH LA BAUVE.

Witnesses:

M. T. MCNEIL, 'l. H. MENEFE. 

